ALBANY — The Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is proud to announce that it has been designated as the recipient of a Whole Foods Market “5% Day.” On August 17th, 5% of the Albany, NY store’s net sales will be donated to ASA to support its local farmland protection efforts. Customers can support ASA by shopping anytime on this day. They can also meet farmers from ASA and sample products from Simply Grazin’ Farm between 11 am to 2 pm.
ASA is a community-supported nonprofit land trust protecting farms in Rensselaer and Washington counties. The organization has successfully assisted more than 112 farm families with the conservation of 17,500 acres of land. The 500-acre Simply Grazin’ Farm in Hartford, NY is one of the farms ASA is in the process of conserving. Owned by Mark and Linda Faille, Simply Grazin is a family-owned operation that sells organic pork and beef to 31 Whole Foods Markets. It was the first farm in the country to receive a Step Level 5 (the highest level) Global Animal Partnership certification, which is an animal welfare recognition program.
This Whole Foods Market 5% Day will support ASA’s Forever Farmland Campaign to protect a total of 24,000 acres by 2020. “We hope people who care deeply about where their food comes from, and by extension, about the continued vitality of agriculture in our region will come out to shop on this day,” says ASA’s executive director Teri Ptacek. “Our farmland is an irreplaceable resource, and safeguarding it is an important part of ensuring the future of farming in the Upper Hudson River Valley. It is an honor to partner with Whole Foods Market in our mission to do that.”
—Agricultural Stewardship Association
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